Method and System for Linking Web-Based Secondary Features to a Lottery Ticket Validation File by an Encrypted Registration Code

1. A method for authenticating instant lottery tickets for subsequent use in a web-based program that links secondary activities to the lottery tickets, the secondary activities independent of a primary lottery game embodied on the lottery tickets and made available to a player for purchasing an authentic one of the lottery tickets, wherein the lottery tickets are provided to retail establishments as pre-packaged ticket packs, the method comprising: providing each lottery ticket with a validation code on the ticket that links the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file in a database, the validation file containing a predetermined outcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lottery ticket; providing each lottery ticket with a registration code on the ticket separate from the validation code, wherein a player uses the registration code to register the lottery ticket in the web-based program, the registration code being an encrypted form of the validation code for each respective ticket; with a server and upon receipt of the registration code from the player for entry into the web-based program, decrypting the registration code to determine the validation code; and accessing the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code and using the validation file to verify authenticity and status of the lottery ticket required for a valid entry into the web-based program.

2. A method for authenticating instant lottery tickets in a web-based program that links secondary activities to the tickets, wherein the lottery tickets are provided to retail establishments as pre-packaged ticket packs, the method comprising: providing each lottery ticket with a validation code that links the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file in a database, the validation file containing a predetermined outcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lottery ticket; providing each lottery ticket with a registration code separate from the validation code, wherein a player uses the registration code to register the lottery ticket in the web-based program, the registration code being an encrypted form of the validation code for each respective ticket; with a server and upon receipt of the registration code from the player for entry into the web-based program, decrypting the registration code to determine the validation code; accessing the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code and using the validation file to verify authenticity and status of the tottery ticket required for a valid entry into the web-based program; for each pack of lottery tickets delivered to the retail establishment, scanning a pack code unique to the ticket pack and transmitting the pack code to a central lottery server that maintains the validation files; at the central lottery server, electronically activating the lottery tickets within the ticket pack associated with the pack code and changing status of the tickets in their validation file to reflect the activated status; at the retail establishment, scanning a unique ticket code provided on each lottery ticket separate from the registration code at a time of sale of the individual lottery ticket and transmitting the ticket code to the central lottery server; at the central lottery server, upon receipt of the ticket code, confirming that the ticket code is associated with a previously activated ticket and changing status of the ticket in its respective validation file to reflect a sold status; and wherein for subsequent entry of the lottery ticket into the web-based program, the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code must reflect the activated and sold statuses.

3. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the ticket code is the validation code.

4. The method as in claim 2 , wherein the central lottery server is also the server that receives the registration code.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the secondary activities in the web-based program include any one or combination of a second-chance drawing or a point-based reward program.

6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the secondary activity in the web-based program is a second-chance drawing for losing lottery tickets only, wherein a losing status of the lottery ticket is confirmed by the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code.

7. A lottery ticket having a primary game embodied thereon, the lottery ticket further configured for use in a web-based program that links player participation in secondary activities that are independent of play of the primary game to the lottery ticket, comprising: game indicia for play of the primary game; a unique validation code printed on a face of the ticket, the validation code linking the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file for the ticket stored in a database, wherein the validation file contains a predetermined win/lose status of the ticket; a separate unique registration code printed on the same or a different face of the ticket that enables a player to register the lottery ticket in the web-based program via a web enabled device; the registration code printed on the ticket being encrypted version of the validation code assigned to the lottery ticket, the registration code thereby linked to the validation file and status indicators contained in the validation file for the lottery ticket; and wherein upon receipt of the registration code by a lottery server, the registration code is decrypted to the validation code that is used to access the validation file associated with the lottery ticket to determine authenticity and a required status of the lottery ticket for entry into the web-based program.

8. The lottery ticket as in claim 7 , wherein the registration code and validation code are printed on opposite faces of the lottery ticket.

9. The lottery ticket as in claim 7 , further comprising a printed notice on the lottery ticket adjacent the registration code informing a holder of the ticket that the registration code is encrypted.

10. The lottery ticket as in claim 7 , wherein the registration code provides access to an activated and sold status indication of the lottery ticket in the associated validation file.

11. The lottery ticket as in claim 10 , further comprising a printed notice on the lottery ticket adjacent the registration code informing a holder of the ticket that ticket must have been previously purchased to enter the ticket in the web-based program.

12. A method for authenticating instant lottery tickets in a web-based program that links secondary activities to the lottery tickets, the secondary activities independent of a primary lottery game embodied on the lottery tickets and made available to a player for purchasing an authentic one of the lottery tickets, wherein the lottery tickets are provided to retail establishments as pre-packaged ticket packs, the method comprising: providing each lottery ticket with a validation code on the lottery ticket that links the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file in a database, the validation file containing a predetermined outcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lottery ticket; providing each lottery ticket with a registration code on the lottery ticket separate from the validation code, wherein a player uses the registration code to register the lottery ticket in the web-based program, the registration code being an encrypted form of the validation code for each respective ticket; with a server and upon receipt of the registration code from the player for entry into the web-based program, decrypting the registration code to determine the validation code; accessing the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code and using the validation file to verify authenticity of the lottery ticket required for a valid entry into the web-based program and confirming from status flags in the validation file that the lottery ticket was previously activated for sale by the retail establishments and was previously sold at one of the retail establishments.

13. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the ticket code is the validation code.

14. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the central lottery server is also the server that receives the registration code.

15. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the secondary activities in the web-based program include any one or combination of a second-chance drawing or a point-based reward program.

16. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the secondary activity in the web-based program is a second-chance drawing for losing lottery tickets only, wherein a losing status of the lottery ticket is confirmed by the validation file associated with the decrypted registration code.